Sticking with the digital detox theme this month by setting myself the challenge of keeping my phone off between 8pm to 8am...

I have just returned from an amazing trip to Japan where I spent 9 days in Toyko soaking up the culture while my husband worked! I loved everything about Japan: the culture, food, ​scenery, people and even the karaoke...I did a calligraphy course, watched a sumo wrestling training session, went to Nikko national park for a 20km hike, saw temples, parks, gardens and even witnessed a typhoon...but not much rugby! We were meant to go to the England/Wales game which was unfortunately cancelled, but watched the Scotland/Japan game in a quirky little bar that was full of very enthusiastic and excited locals. I sampled some Japanese reflexology and chiropractic massage which was amazing. I would highly recommend a trip to Japan to anyone, and am already wanting to go back and explore the country side a bit more.

Here are my top tips for Toyko:

I had the Tokyo Lonely Planet guide book which I found great. I would recommend getting a Pasmo- like our oyster card, for trains etc. Can also be used in convenience stores like Family Mart and 7 Eleven. I would also recommend getting a portable wifi device while you are there. 

Enjoy!

Top sights:

• Shibuya crossing
• Meiji Jingu shrine- get there in the morning as it can get quite busy
• Harajuku- Takeshita street- very busy/crazy shopping street
• TeamLab Borderless and/or Planets- digital design museum. Go first thing to avoid crowds.
• Senso-Ji temple- always quite busy. Good strip of market stalls walking up to the main entrance for souvenirs etc.
• Asakusa
• Kappabashi- Japanese kitchenware shopping street. Good place to buy knives, bowls, tea mugs…
• Tsujiki fish market- fish market has now moved to Toyosu but still interesting to wander around the old fish market. Check opening times before visiting
• Sumo training session (out of Sumo competition season)
• Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden- check opening times
• Kiyosumi-teien garden- beautiful, peaceful garden
• Fukagawa Fudo-do 5pm fire ritual- sutras are chanted, loud drums, bells etc. Beautiful temple.
• Golden Gai- 4/5 streets of little old fashioned bars which used to be brothels.
• Day trip- Nikko. 

Restaurants:

• Andy’s- Andy is from Lancashire and is the only Westerner allowed into the fish market to buy wholesale fish. Delicious sashimi, crab, John Dory, scallops 
• Gyukatsu Motomura, Shibuya- delicious breaded steak which you cook yourself on a small grill. Meat is melt in the mouth! We had to queue for about 20 minutes but it was definitely worth the wait!
• Ramen Nagi- yummy ramen ordered from a vending machine outside the shop. Quite a few branches in Tokyo.
• Gonpachi- Restaurant in Kill Bill. Yakitori etc.

Shops:

• Don Quijote Shibuya- 8 floor mega store madness! Selling everything from fancy dress, to Japanese sweets and snacks, to alcohol…
• Kamawanu (tengui)- selling hand printed pieces of material that can be used as head scarves, napkins, wall hangings etc. In Daikanyama area which has loads of quirky little boutique shops and nice bakeries etc.
• Nature (Daikanyama)- Great shiatsu, chiropractic massage and reflexology and other treatments... https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1066456-d7744338-Reviews-NATURE_Daikanyama-Shibuya_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

This month I'm repeating one from last year. I'm going social media free for a month! I found this one really broke my habits of constantly scrolling through Instagram and Facebook whenever I had a minute to spare. Instead I will be using my time more productively by reading up on all things reflexology as there's always more to learn. 

September means back to school! So my challenge for September is "Learn Anatomy"! I studied anatomy and physiology as part of my course to qualify as a reflexologist in 2011 but feel like I need to refresh what I know. There are constantly new things being discovered and things can be forgotten. I'm going to go back to my study books and online groups and learn new things about anatomy and physiology...

August's monthly challenge is: Explore London! I am lucky to live in this amazing city but definitely take it for granted and don't make the most of it. So this month I am going to become a tourist and try to see or do things that are undiscovered to me in London. Any suggestions would be great! 

I'm loving the new additions to the Hamna Tabu treatment room. I opened up Hamna Tabu around November 2018 and since then it has had lots of lovely visitors. The treatment room is located between Hampton Wick and Teddington in a peaceful,  leafy area. We are situated by the train tracks but I use sound cancelling headphones which really allow people to drift off into another space where they can completely switch off. I am always trying to improve the treatment room and often finding new things to put in it. Recently I purchased a new bolster cushion which is unbelievably comfortable and a gorgeous smelling candle. Hopefully see you for a treatment in Hamna Tabu soon! 

I had another great year working at Lovefit. The relentless rain on the Friday didn't put the amazing festival goers off and they stuck it out until the sun finally came out on Saturday morning! My bell tent treatment room didn't enjoy the rain so much, and when I went to open up on Saturday the floor was completely drenched. Nothing a bit of sunshine (and a hot yoga tent!) couldn't fix though. 

Yet again I was overwhelmed with how lovely everyone at the festival was. It must  be a magical mixture of endorphins from all the exercise they're doing, all in a beautiful setting, with great facilities and like minded people all around. 

I was booked out from the Friday afternoon to Sunday early evening. I think I managed to convert lots of people who had never had reflexology before- It's a great introduction to it having a half hour treatment and lots of people came back to me the day after their treatments telling me how their various ailments were feeling better. 

I'll definitely be going back next year! 

I loved doing my daily meditations last month, and I think I'll even try to keep the habit up. I use the "Calm" app and find it really useful not only for meditation sessions but for relaxing music, sleep stories and even stretch sessions.

This month my challenge is to "read an interesting book"! So I have bought myself "A Little History of the World" by E.H. Gombrich to learn more about this wonderful world that we live in. I can't wait to get stuck into it.